Gemma Atkinson quit 'Emmerdale' after her mum told her she was being "grumpy".
Gemma Atkinson
The 33-year-old actress loved playing Carly Hope in the ITV soap for two years, but opted to leave the Dales because shooting her scenes, learning her lines and presenting her Key 103 radio show was leaving her too tired, and her mother noticed she was being short-tempered.
The former 'Hollyoaks' star said: "I was doing my Key 103 radio show and Emmerdale together for six months and I just took on too much.
"I had no social life at all and it was my mum who told me that I was getting so grumpy I had to leave one of the jobs."
However, Gemma is hopeful she will be able to reprise her role as Carly "at some point", but isn't sure when that might be.
She said: "I chose to leave 'Emmerdale' and I'm very grateful that it's been left open, so hopefully at some point I will return."
Since departing the soap, the former 'Casualty' actress went on to appear on 'Strictly Come Dancing' - on which she finished runner up and met professional dancer Gorka Marquez, who she is now dating - but the star admits leaving the Dales was one of the "toughest decisions" she has ever made.
Speaking to The Sunday Post's iN10 magazine, she added: "Leaving 'Emmerdale' was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make.
"I just couldn't keep doing the two jobs and the radio show was closer to home and gave me more freedom to do other stuff.
"I was getting up at 4am, wasn't getting home until 8.30pm and then had to learn my lines."
Gemma previously admitted there was a "huge" possibility that Carly will return to the Emmerdale village in the future.
She said: "I think the possibility of Carly coming back is huge.
"She has got her dad in the village, and little April. She doesn't say bye to [Marlon's daughter] April so that will weigh heavily on her mind.
"She'll go and try having a really happy life with Matt but there will be a shadow over it because she has unfinished business in Emmerdale.
"I think Carly will go off and do some living, but she will come back and make amends, so to speak."
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